{"product_id":"cheval-des-andes-red-blend-mendoza-2020","title":"Cheval des Andes Red Blend Mendoza 2020","description":"\u003cp\u003e98, 97, 96, and double-95s from the TOP wine critics across the board! We have a few cases of one of the finest Bordeaux\/Mendoza projects ever to come out of Argentina: Cheval des Andes! Super limited...this is a JEWEL to stash in the cellar at our terrific price!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eKnown as the Grand Cru of the Andes, Cheval des Andes has carved a path for cool-climate, high-altitude winemaking in Argentina using Bordeaux varieties and producing some of the most fresh, elegant, and age-worthy wines anywhere. Founder, and president of Bordeaux’s Château Cheval Blanc, Pierre Lurton began his journey in France, where malbec was also once widely cultivated in Bordeaux before phylloxera destroyed it. Thankfully, malbec was brought to Argentina in the mid-19th century, where it has flourished, and Pierre discovered the stunning malbec vineyard of Las Compuertas in Mendoza that inspired him to start a joint venture between Château Cheval Blanc and Terrazas de Los Andes to bring a magnificent Bordeaux blend that would stand as one of the Southern Hemisphere’s very best!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eCheval des Andes owns 50 hectares of vineyards covering an assortment of altitudes, topography, and soil compositions. This wine is 49% cabernet sauvignon, 49% malbec, and 2% petit verdot, with a slightly higher alcohol than the 2019, at 14.5%. Its grapes come from Paraje Altamira in the Uco Valley (characterized by a cooler climate, alluvial soils, and good drainage) and Las Compuertas in Luján de Cuyo (known for lower rainfall, deep silty-loam soils with buried stones, and high diurnal temperatures). 2020 was a blazing growing season for Mendoza, prompting the winery to use cool trucks to transfer the grapes to the production facility to retain their freshness and reduce damage on their commute. The winery also has a strong focus on high ecological standards, using a mix of regenerative viticulture, cover crops, biodiversity, and other sustainable measures to keep their environmental footprint light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAnd folks, no surprises here – the resulting bottle of all of this measured, fastidious, and knowledgeable work is a GORGEOUS, sexy, layered, complex wine. High elevation, 50% new wood, built with the precision and depth we expect from Lurton’s Cheval Blanc winemaking team. This erupts with a sensual explosion of dark cherry compote, purple plums, and red currant, with accents of iron ore, black peppercorn, licorice, some spearmint and bay leaf, and a mineral flintiness that’s all at once velvety and dry and meticulously spiced and berry-kissed...and just purely divine! Did we mention under $80? Grab it as quick as you can...Wine Advocate’s gushing 98 point review: \u003cem\u003e“The wine has the ultra sleek and polished texture and the elegance and the balance that is the signature here; the wine is very clean and precise.”\u003c\/em\u003e $79.95...free shipping on 6 or more bottles...wow! While it lasts! \u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePAIRING IDEAS: Go big with garlic and herb-crusted lamb chops, with potatoes au gratin and a Panzanella salad on the side.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"First Bottle","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50657404059945,"sku":"AACAR20","price":79.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0793\/2706\/8457\/files\/First-Bottle-Cheval-des-Andes-Red-Blend-Mendoza-2020-product-image-9509-large.jpg?v=1752686150","url":"https:\/\/firstbottlewines.com\/products\/cheval-des-andes-red-blend-mendoza-2020","provider":"First Bottle Wines","version":"1.0","type":"link"}